The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

 Xbox 360
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Image
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings

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  • Summary: [Xbox Live Arcade] Pirates! Adventure! Monkeys! Relive the hilarious swashbuckling misadventures of the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean! Back by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition faithfully[Xbox Live Arcade] Pirates! Adventure! Monkeys! Relive the hilarious swashbuckling misadventures of the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean! Back by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition faithfully re-imagines the internationally-acclaimed classic pirate adventure game from LucasArts in gorgeous HD detail. Featuring an all new re-imagined contemporary art style, hand-drawn and presented in 1080p, complete voice over by members of the original Monkey Island - franchise cast, a re-mastered musical score using live instruments, plus scene-for scene-hot swap to seamlessly transition between Special Edition and Classic modes at anytime. Embark on a bumbling misadventure in an attempt to become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean, win the heart of the beautiful governor, Elaine Marley, and confront the evil ghost pirate, LeChuck! The game is all-new and re-imagined with a contemporary art style, hand-drawn and presented in 1080p. Complete voice over using original Monkey Island franchise cast members brings the story and characters to life like never before. Enjoy the re-mastered and re-recorded musical score using live instruments. Scene-for-scene hot swap lets you seamlessly transition between Special Edition and Classic modes at anytime during gameplay. The all-new intuitive game interface and controls provide a more interactive gameplay experience. Hint system: Not sure what to do next? The in-game puzzle hint system keeps the puzzles fresh and fun. [LucasArts]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    100
    Guybrush and gang get the gaming equivalent of a knighthood, a Ferrari and a bonk with Megan Fox. [Oct 2009, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. WonderwallWeb
    95
    This is what remakes should be all about, keeping the original story was a brave but sensible move and Lucasarts have pulled off the new look well.
  3. Gamers.at
    92
    Monkey Island Special Edition is the well done remake of a classic game. The controls may not be perfect, but the graphics and sound make up for it.
  4. Vandal
    90
    The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition is one of the most recommended buys of this summer, provided one hasn't played the classic game before.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine
    90
    Secret is the foremost example of the genre on Xbox — and arguably anywhere else.
  6. RPG Fan
    87
    What it comes down to is that The Secret of Monkey Island is one of the great games in the adventure genre: like Maniac Mansion, King's Quest, or Sam and Max Hit the Road. With LucasArts providing this remake for a mere ten dollars, there is no excuse for any gamer not to have this in their library.
  7. Cheat Code Central
    70
    The game only lasts about 5-6 hours, and many will find what's on offer exceedingly dull. Still, point-and-click fans and puzzle-adventure buffs should really enjoy it.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. CodyB.
    Jul 16, 2009
    10
    AAAAAAWE the memories. Perfectly put together. Great voice acting, awesome graphics and the select button allows you to toggle classic mode AAAAAAWE the memories. Perfectly put together. Great voice acting, awesome graphics and the select button allows you to toggle classic mode on and off.… Expand
  2. CannonBlaster
    Aug 19, 2013
    10
    This is how point and click adventures work. It has logical puzzles, wonderful writing, and some of the best characters in video games. ThisThis is how point and click adventures work. It has logical puzzles, wonderful writing, and some of the best characters in video games. This game must be bought!… Expand
  4. JasonW
    Jul 20, 2009
    10
    Love this game. Brings the glory of the old graphics up do date.
  5. matroycem
    Apr 26, 2013
    10
    WARNING BIAS REVIEW!
    this was probably the first game I played when i was young. Playing this on my Amiga 500 with the 4 Floppy Discs    WARNING BIAS REVIEW!
    this was probably the first game I played when i was young. Playing this on my Amiga 500 with the 4 Floppy Discs (Remember them?) and constantly having to change as you moved from area to area. I found the scripting and the humour to be subtle but charming and the characters to be well thought up. The game now available is still the same old game that you remember but they have taken a few bits from the later series and put them into the new. The voice actors from the third game (Curse of monkey Island i think) has been brought in to voice the characters and they have given the game a new lick of paint. You can however change this back to the original with the push of a button.
    Point and click games are back with this and games such as 'The Walking Dead'. this is not quite where it all began but it is the most successful of the early breed of Point and Click adventures and what really gave the new modern games the audience they have today.
    Play this and tell me if you don't want to go Insult Sword Fighting... How Appropriate, you fight like a cow.    … Expand
  6. vuckoland
    Dec 5, 2015
    10
    This is a must have all time classic masterpiece.. Monkey Island 1 i 2 in once package..lots of fun, puzzlez and one of the greatest storyThis is a must have all time classic masterpiece.. Monkey Island 1 i 2 in once package..lots of fun, puzzlez and one of the greatest story ever told in video games! I rate it 10/10… Expand
  7. zanella_marco
    Oct 10, 2014
    9
    The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition  e  Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge, sono due acquisti che consiglio di fareThe Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition  e  Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge, sono due acquisti che consiglio di fare ad occhi chiusi a chiunque, considerando anche il prezzo “budget” (tra l’altro la versione retail,  Monkey Island: Special Edition Collection, contiene entrambe le avventure, storyboard, bozzetti e le colonne sonore complete rimasterizzate di ciascun gioco, tutto in un’unica confezione!). Non lasciatevi sfuggire queste perle di rara bellezza, che a distanza di oltre 20 anni sono ancora considerate metri di giudizio per le produzioni odierne. Ritroverete quella magia che si è persa col passare degli anni e con l’evolversi del mercato  che gira attorno ai videogiochi e delle preferenze dei giocatori stessi che hanno abbandonato un genere che poco a poco stà morendo. Esperienze di questo stampo devono essere provate almeno una volta nella propria vita, per far rivivere anche a chi ancora non c’era momenti indimenticabili della storia videoludica. Il voto che assegno a queste “edizioni speciali” non è ovviamente lo stesso che darei all’originale, per ovvi motivi, altrimenti il 10 sarebbe garantito ma lo rende comunque un acquisto imprescindibile.  Se non avete mai visto una scimmia a tre teste, è il momento giusto per farlo!… Expand
  8. MarkyB
    Nov 13, 2012
    7
    Point and click adventure with a great sense of humour. I very much like how you have the option to switch between old and new graphics. BePoint and click adventure with a great sense of humour. I very much like how you have the option to switch between old and new graphics. Be warned that this game is hard and can be frustrating if you become stumped.… Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2009
52
#52 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
20
#20 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009